レビュー

A Must Read for Our Current Challenges

'The Imprint' provides a critical analysis of the influences of business on the educational system. Specifically, Alexander acutely builds an argument that the structures and processes of business & management have affected and will continue to affect the outcomes of learning....続きを読む

'The Imprint' provides a critical analysis of the influences of business on the educational system. Specifically, Alexander acutely builds an argument that the structures and processes of business & management have affected and will continue to affect the outcomes of learning. As one reads this book, he should ask himself, "Would I rather my child ACCOMPLISH learning or EXPERIENCE learning?" The reader may find that based on his answer, the results would differ dramatically. Alexander provides a thorough review of the current educational environment, while also offering concepts and pratices that could improve it.

While there have been books written on the "arrangement" marriage between business structures & education, none have stated the case so precisely, without indicting business norms and capitalism. Alexander acknowledges the pros, cons, and motives of business in having influence towards the learning of the educational system's participants. However, the reader will never feel as if she is being manipulated to believe that business structures can not provide value to our educational system. Conversely, she will take from this diagnostic examination, an optimistic insight that business can be utilized to positively affect learning outcomes in educational system like never seen before.

The risk of an assembly line approach to education

What is the purpose of education? If you believe that one of the many answers to this question is to get a job, then this book is an important read. Numerous reports have...続きを読む

What is the purpose of education? If you believe that one of the many answers to this question is to get a job, then this book is an important read. Numerous reports have emerged over recent years about our failing school systems and how we are falling behind in terms of academic achievement and performance on numerous forms of assessment. CEO's of businesses and corporations have complained that they are not seeing qualified and competent applicants. So what is the logical thing to do? According to Alexander, it is involve themselves in the business of education. This seems like an innocent and logical move, however as Alexander so diligently lays out, this approach is not without consequences. If businesses get involved in education then what and how are they teaching the students? If Education is a person building industry, are businesses sensitive to that or are they attempting to build people like they build products, in an assembly line? Is the goal to build critical thinkers and leaders or simply to build better employees who will improve the bottom line, take orders without resistance, and continue to empower the elite? If the students are being trained to be employees, who is training the potential leadership of the company and what does their education look like? How does a business decide which population it plans to infuse with its corporate ideologies? What is the agenda? Is this what is behind the charter school movement? These are just some of the many questions that emerge from Alexander's timely and important book. This book is an important and timely wake up call for all those involved in education and education reform. Alexander's insights are forward thinking brilliant and cautionary for those on the education reform bandwagon. I strongly recommend.